Judicial Panel To Probe Maha Kumbh Stampede, Rs 25 Lakh To Victims' Families, CM Yogi Announces — Updates
Multiple casualties occurred when a stampede broke out in the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh on Wednesday, as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial inquiry into the stampede that unfolded in the Maha Kumbh in the early hours of Wednesday. The CM said that a 3-member judicial commission will investigate the stampede, which resulted in the death of 30 people.
30 people have died and 60 others were injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in the early hours of Wednesday ahead of the 'Amrit Snan' on 'Mauni Amavasya.'
Officials said that the stampede broke out when a large number of pilgrims turned up for a holy bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, which led to a stampede and injured many.
Here are all the updates regarding the Maha Kumbh tragedy:
- CM Yogi said that the state government would give Rs 25 lakh each to the families of the deceased who have lost their lives in the tragic incident. "We are also announcing financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of the deceased who have lost their lives in the accident on behalf of the state government," he said.
- The Chief Minister also said that a judicial commission will look into the entire matter and submit its report to the state government within a time limit. Moreover, the CM added that the chief secretary and DGP would visit the Maha Kumbh on Thursday for an in-depth probe into the tragic incident.
#WATCH | On Mahakumbh stampede, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says "We are also announcing financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of the deceased who have lost their lives in the accident on behalf of the state government. The judicial commission will look… pic.twitter.com/XStIoFwQD0
— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025
- The CM announced that a judicial inquiry of the incident will be done by a 3-member committee headed by Justice Harsh Kumar, former DG VK Gupta and retired IAS DK Singh.
- Over 5.7 crore devotees took a holy dip in the Triveni waters on Mauni Amavasya, a statement of the UP government said. Meanwhile, the total footfall in the ongoing Maha Kumbh has now surpassed 20 crore.
ALSO READ | 30 Killed, 60 Injured In Maha Kumbh Stampede, 25 Victims Identified: UP Top Cop
- The 'Amrit Snan' by saints and seers of all 13 akharas on Mauni Amavasya, which was deferred after a stampede at the Maha Kumbh here, concluded at the Sangam on Wednesday evening.
- The Amrit snan, which was originally scheduled in the early hours of Wednesday, was deferred due to the stampede at Maha Kumbh and resumed later in the day.
#WATCH | #MahaKumbhMela2025 | Prayagraj: Flower petals showered on saints and seers taking a holy dip at Triveni Sangam on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. pic.twitter.com/N2qelHc0bW
— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2025
- The procession of akharas, led by Mahant Ravindra Puri, head of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, made its way on foot towards the Sangam for the snan around 2:30 PM. A huge number of people had reached Prayagraj on the occasion of 'Mauni Amavasya'.
- Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said around 9-10 crore people are in Prayagraj and appealed to devotees to take a dip in the Ganga at their nearest ghats and not try to reach the Sangam Nose to avoid overcrowding.
- The head of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad Mahant Ravindra Puri said the traditional bathing ritual of all the akharas has been deferred due to overcrowding at the Sangam ghat amid the Maha Kumbh. However, Puri, who is the head of the apex body of 13 akharas, did not refer to the stampede and said there was overcrowding at the Sangam.
- As per tradition of the Kumbh Mela, Akharas belonging to the three sects 'Sanyasi, Bairagi, and Udaseen' take the holy dip in a set sequence following a majestic, awe-inspiring procession to the Sangam Ghat.
- The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has blamed administrative mismanagement for the stampede-like situation at the Maha Kumbh, calling for an end to VIP culture and stricter crowd management. AAP leader Sanjay Singh, during a press conference, described the scenes from the religious gathering as scary. "I saw a woman desperately trying to give oxygen from her mouth to her family member to save him. This is heartbreaking," Singh said, adding that the VIP culture is the main problem.
- Opposition leaders in UP, including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, targeted the Yogi Adityanath government over the stampede, saying it highlighted the failure of the state government. "In order to re-establish faith in the system among the saint community and devotees who have come to the Maha Kumbh, it is necessary that the administration and management of the Maha Kumbh should be immediately handed over to the army instead of the UP government," Akhilesh said in a post on X.
- The Triveni Sangam -- confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati -- is considered the holiest by Hindus, with a belief that taking a dip in it during Maha Kumbh and particularly on special bathing dates like Mauni Amavasya washes away people's sins and provides them 'moksha' or salvation.
- The UP government has also issued helpline numbers- 1920 (Maha Kumbh Helpline Number) and 1944 (Mela Police Helpline Number). The Maha Kumbh kicked off on January 13 and will continue till February 26.
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